Kentucky Horse Park, Winding Down, and Departure!

Following our antiquing stint there was just enough time left to stop at Kentucky Horse Park - a working horse farm and educational theme park that opened in 1978.

I loved the movie, Secretariat, so was happy to have my photo taken by his statue. Secretariat was the American Thoroughbred racehorse that became the first U.S. Triple Crown winner in 25 years [1973].  I need to watch that movie again!

Linda drove the scenic route back to Berea to show us several Bluegrass horse farms. The 140th Kentucky Derby will be held at Churchill Downs Racetrack on May 3, 2014 in Louisville, KY. It's been an annual event since 1875, held on the first Saturday of May.  Linda and Mary have both been Kentucky Derby attendees.  

You wouldn't think we'd be hungry again after the  tea luncheon we had at Greentree, but we were!  ;-)   So for some local cuisine, we went to Papaleno's, on College Square.

Angela and I split a yummy pizza!  Unique display of rolling pins on the pizzeria wall below. 

Wonderful tea friends!

[L-R:  Me, Angela, Linda, Nancy and Maureen]

When we returned to the hotel, Linda had a tea tasting set up with teas from Red Blossom Tea Company in San Francisco, CA.   I sampled a Keemun black tea.

The teacup notepad and pen was a gift to each of us from Linda's daughter, Melissa.  Thanks, Melissa!

Thursday morning rolled around all too quickly, and we gathered in the Boone Tavern Hotel dining room for breakfast together before departure.

Linda and Mr. Gary McCormick, General Manager of Boone Tavern Hotel.  

~ One last group photo ~

[L-R:  Me, Linda, Nancy, Lori, Angela, and Maureen]

On the way out I had to take one last photo in the Lincoln Lounge.  One of the few oil paintings of Abraham Lincoln without a beard hangs over the fireplace.  Across from the portrait sits a gorgeous silver tea and coffee service on a sideboard.

I hate goodbyes, so we departed with "until the next time!"  Perhaps the next meet-up could be a Michigan tour to include Henry Ford Museum/Greenfield Village, Meadow Brooke Hall, and a night's stay at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island in the spring or fall of 2015??? 

Before we got onto I-75 to head home, we did a quick drive through Old Town Berea.  The photo on the right is an 1813 Shifflet Cabin, with another "Show of Hands" statue in front.

~ Berea's Historic 1912 Jail ~

And just so my hubby would know I thought of him while I was away with my tea and blogging friends, I brought him back some sweets from the hotel gift shop.

Thanks for a wonderful time, Linda.  You're the best tour guide I know!  I don't think I've ever crammed so many fun activities into two days.  What fun to see you, Angela, Nancy, Lynn, and Mary again, and to meet Melissa, Maureen, and Patty.  Raising my teacup to wonderful tea friends!